How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer by Sarah Bakewell

Living a fulfilling life is the goal of many — but figuring out the path to achieving it is a difficult task. French renaissance writer Michel de Montaigne attempted to answer this question in his book “How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer”. Written by Sarah Bakewell, this book examines Montaigne’s thoughts on living a full life. Montaigne proposes that life should be a continuous process of self-discovery and learning, rather than a defined set of rules.

In “How to Live”, Bakewell takes an in-depth look into Montaigne’s life and philosophy. The book starts with a brief overview of Montaigne’s life, exploring his family background and the events that influenced his thought process. Montaigne was a highly influential philosopher and was widely respected during his time. Bakewell then closely examines Montaigne’s idea of “self-knowledge”, which served as the basis for his life advice. He argued that the best way to understand ourselves and the world around us is to reflect upon our own experiences rather than following some fixed set of rules.

From there, Bakewell delves into the topics covered in Montaigne’s essay, including death, solitude, travel, and the nature of friendship. Bakewell highlights the importance of being mindful and present in life and of forming close relationships with others, rather than worrying overly about one’s status or reputation. Montaigne encourages readers to question themselves and the world around them courageously, without fear of being judged. Bakewell further suggests that in order to truly live an honest and full life, one must accept their own mortality and strive to make the best of every moment.

Bakewell then moves on to discuss the merits of self-exploration through activities such as keeping a journal, reading widely, and exploring nature. According to Montaigne, by studying oneself and the world in this way, we can gain understanding and perspective. This ultimately leads to living an authentic and meaningful life. Additionally, Bakewell highlights the importance of forgiveness and understanding, emphasizing that everyone makes mistakes and that we should strive to learn from them rather than letting them define us.

In the final chapter of the book, Bakewell examines Michel's approach to wisdom. According to Montaigne, our best route to knowledge is exploring ourselves, which in turn can help us conquer our fears and guide us through life’s trials. Ultimately, Montaigne believed that wisdom is something that can be accessed from within and that it is our responsibility to discover it.

Those looking for a guidebook to living a fulfilled life need not look further than “How to Live”. By exploring Montaigne’s ideas, Bakewell helps readers understand the importance of self-exploration and self-awareness in leading a meaningful life. Through Montaigne’s wise insights and engaging stories, “How to Live” will inspire readers to strive to uncover their true selves and appreciate the beauty of life.